A portable air conditioner is a compact and self-contained cooling unit designed to provide temporary or supplemental cooling in a room or space. Unlike traditional window or central air conditioning systems, portable air conditioners are movable and don’t require permanent installation. While portable air conditioners are easier to install compared to window or split-system units, they still require a window or opening to expel hot air. Most units come with a window installation kit that includes a hose and window adapter.
Some portable air conditioners come with additional features like remote controls, programmable timers, fan-only mode, and dehumidification functions. These features can enhance convenience and comfort. Portable air conditioners are generally more affordable than central or split-system air conditioners, making them a cost-effective solution for cooling smaller spaces. Portable air conditioners are a flexible cooling solution, but they may not be as efficient as permanently installed systems. They work best in smaller spaces or for spot cooling and can be an excellent option for renters or those looking for a temporary cooling solution.
We recently got our hands on one such interesting portable AC. It is the Costway 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner. It is a 3-in-1 device as it combines the functionalities of a cooling, ventilation, and dehumidifying in a single unit. As it’s a portable AC, you don’t have to worry about installation, plumbing, vents, and all the other things that we normally have to take care in case of a mini split or central air conditioner.
In this review of the Costway 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner, we will look at how easy it is to install/setup the unit, the cooling performance, user interface, and many other features. If you are looking to invest in a small portable AC for your home or garage, continue reading the review and make an informed decision.
Before taking a look at the contents of the package of the Costway 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner, here is a quick note on Costway brand. Costway is an e-commerce company that offers a diverse range of products across various categories, including home appliances, furniture, hardware, sporting goods, toys, outdoor and gardening equipment, and more.
The company is known for providing affordable and competitively priced products to consumers. Costway’s product catalog includes items for indoor and outdoor living, home improvement, fitness and sports, and even pet supplies. They offer a wide selection of products designed to cater to different customer needs. Some popular products from Costway are: Air Conditioners, Fire Places, Refrigerators, Ice Makers, Sofas, Toys, and many more.
Costway is primarily an online retailer. But they also sell their products through other online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. This approach allows them to reach a global audience and offer their products at competitive prices. One of Costway’s distinguishing features is its focus on providing budget-friendly options. They often offer products at lower price points compared to other brands, which can make their offerings appealing to cost-conscious consumers.
That said, let us take a quick look at the contents of the package. First, we get a bunch of accessories. There is an exhaust hose in its compressed form. Then there is the window kit adapter, which helps you attach the hose to the window kit. There is also a hose connector which helps in connecting the hose to the back of the AC unit. You get a drain pipe, if you want to install a continuous drainage system.
Next, we have the user manual and remote control in a zip-lock bag. There is also a window kit in the package. And last but not least, we have the main AC Unit.
As this is a portable AC, the size is really compact measuring just 12.5″ x 12″ x 27.5″ (L x W x H). On the front, we have the main air outlet with an adjustable louver. Sadly, these do not have an automatic swing feature and you have to manually adjust the louvers up and down. The sides of the unit have handles so that you can easily carry it from room to room. Alternatively, the AC also has 4 caster wheels that rotate in 360° for easy maneuverability.
On the top, there is a rather large touch panel for controlling the AC. It has all the essential buttons and indicators to fully control the air conditioner. As we mentioned in the previous section, the Costway 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner also comes with a handy remote control. So, you can control using either of the two.
If we switch our attention to the back of the unit, we can see a large air inlet with air filters on the top. You can easily take the air filter and wash them when necessary. Below that, we have the air exhaust and a provision to connect the exhaust hose. There are a couple of drain holes. Depending on your situation (continuous or manual drainage system), you can either of those holes.
The main benefit of getting a portable air conditioner is you don’t have to install anything. This is true even in case of the Costway 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner. But even with a “ready to use” type device such as this one, there is one little installation that you have to do. Of course, we are talking about the exhaust hose. It is crucial that portable air conditioners require proper ventilation as it serves the important purpose of expelling the hot air and moisture generated by the appliance outside of the room.
To set up the portable air conditioner, follow these steps. First, connect the hose connector to one end of the exhaust hose and attach the window kit adapter to the other end. Next, extend the adjustable window kit to match your window’s length and connect the exhaust hose. Secure the window tightly, using duct tape if needed, and seal any gaps for optimal efficiency.
Attach the hose connector to the AC unit’s exhaust air outlet. Ensure the exhaust hose is properly positioned with a minimum distance of 27.6 inches from the AC unit to the window and a height of 35.4 inches from the floor. Finally, adjust the louver at the air outlet and power on the unit. These steps ensure a correctly installed and well-ventilated portable air conditioner, allowing it to efficiently cool your space while expelling hot air and moisture outside.
When you turn on the Costway 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner, the top touch panel comes to life. There are a total of 8 buttons on the touch panel along with numeric LED display and a bunch of indicators. Here is an overview of the functions of the touch control panel.
POWER button serves as the power switch for the machine. Press it to turn the appliance on or off. Use the MODE button to switch between different operation modes. You can select from Fan mode for air circulation, Cooling mode for cooling the room, or Dehumidifier mode for reducing excess moisture in the air. Adjust the fan speed to your preference by pressing the SPEED button. You can choose between HIGH and LOW fan speeds, allowing you to control the airflow intensity.
To decrease the desired temperature or timer setting, press the DOWN button. Increase the desired temperature within the range of 16℃ to 32℃ (or 61℉ to 90℉) or adjust the timer setting by pressing the UP button. These buttons allow you to customize the temperature or adjust the timer duration. Speaking of which, the TIMER button lets you set a specific time for the unit to start or stop its operation automatically. This function is especially useful for energy-saving and convenience.
Long-press the LOCK button to activate or deactivate the child lock function. This feature enhances safety by preventing unintended adjustments by children or others. Press the SLEEP button to activate or deactivate the sleep mode. Sleep mode optimizes the appliance’s operation for a quieter and more comfortable sleeping environment. The LED display on the control panel shows the timer setting and the current room temperature, providing you with real-time information about the unit’s status. These intuitive controls make it easy to customize your portable air conditioner’s settings for optimal comfort, energy efficiency, and functionality to suit your specific needs.
As the Costway 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner comes with a handy remote control, you can do all these operations using it as well. There are dedicated buttons for the three modes as well as two fan speeds on the remote-control unit for easy access.
So, how did the Costway 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner perform in real-world usage? As this is an 8000 BTU unit, the manufacturer suggests a room size of up to 250 sq. ft. We used this AC in a 15 ft. × 15 ft. room (which totals to an area of 225 sq. ft.) and the cooling was really good. The ambient temperature before turning the AC on was around 90°F (it was really hot in California that day). After turning the AC on and setting the temperature to 74°F, it took less than 30 minutes before the room cooled down.
We set the fan speed to high and the noise was around 55dB. Even though this is not too loud, you will feel it if you are a little bit closer to the AC. We couldn’t measure the air flow but the manufacturer says this Costway 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner can deliver up to 171 CFM.
The portable air conditioner offers four versatile operation modes to cater to various climate and comfort needs. In the Cooling mode, users can select their desired temperature between 16°C /61°F and 32°C/90°F to effectively lower room temperatures. Ventilation mode circulates room air without cooling, while Dehumidifier mode requires the connection of a hose to remove excess moisture from the room. Additionally, the Sleep mode, available in Cool mode, gradually increases the preset temperature to enhance sleeping comfort.
To cool a room, users simply press the MODE button until the Cool indicator lights up, adjust the desired temperature using the Up/Down buttons, and select the fan speed with the SPEED button. In Ventilation mode, the FAN indicator is activated, and fan speed can be adjusted. For dehumidification, pressing the MODE button activates the Dry mode, and connecting a hose to the unit’s drain outlet is necessary. Finally, the Sleep mode, which is applicable in Cool mode, provides gradual temperature adjustments for enhanced sleep quality.
The Costway 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner has automatic defrost mode if frost builds up at the evaporator. Additionally, in the event of a power loss, the AC will wait for 3 minutes before switching on the compressor. Speaking of the compressor, it has an LRA of 27A and RLA of 5.8A.
The Costway 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner costs $269. With some coupons and discounts, you can get this AC for even less than this price. For the performance it offers in a compact form-factor, we feel this is a decently priced AC unit.
Overall, we really liked the Costway 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner. The installation process was very simple and hassle-free. Its versatile operation modes, including cooling, ventilation, dehumidification, and sleep mode, provide flexibility and adaptability to changing environmental conditions.
The dual control option i.e., control using the on-board touch panel or using the remote control means you can effortlessly adjust the temperature, fan speed, set timers, or change modes. As it is a portable AC unit, you can easily move this between rooms with the help of the handles or casters. While there is a provision to setup a continuous drainage system, most homes don’t have a floor drain option. So, depending on your usage and mode of operation, you have to frequently empty the water. This is a tiny nitpicking.
If you are looking for a small and compact air conditioner for a single room or garage, then the Costway 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is a worthy option.
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